Route-indicator.



vUNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

THOMAS E. KNAUSS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ROUTE-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,255, dated November 8, 1904. Application iiled October 12, 1903. Serial No. 176,678. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ 107mm/ it litany concern/s Be it known that I, THOMAS E. KNAUss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Route-Indicators, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of route-indicators which are adapted for use by drivers of delivery-wagons; and the objects of my invention are to provide an iniproved device of this character having means whereby the various stops or calls may be plainly indicated, thereby obviating any tendency on the part of the driver to miss customers or stopping-places, and to produce certain improvements in details of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved device, and Fig. 2. is a central longitudinai section of the same witha portion of the address-cards removed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout both views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a rectangular case or box l, having 'its upper side open. Extending centrally through one end of said box or case and terminating at the opposite end thereof is a removable tubular rod 2, which is provided on its outer end with a suitable finger-piece or head 3. Extending into this tubular rod 2 through an opening in the other end of the box is a rod 4. Upon the tubular rod 2 and Within the box I string or mount a plurality of cards or tickets 5, said rod 2 piercing said cards or tickets at their inner ends and preferably midway of their height. Upon the cards 5 are printed or written the names and addresses of the customers, the same being arranged with reference to the order in which the stops'are to be made. It will be understood that the said cards may be of any desired or well-known material or construction. The cards 5 are designed to be of two distinct colors or shades, each alternate card being of corresponding color or shade, and assuming, for example,

'that the shades adopted are white and red each of the white cards has one of its corners cut away, as indicated at 5", while the adjacent red cards are suitably recessed at points out of alinement with the cut-away portions 5a of the white cards, these red-card recesses being indicated at 5l. It will thus be understood that the cut-away portions 5a and 5b of .the cards will result in disclosing the color of the adjacent cards.

Assuming that the route-indicating device is to be used bythe driver of a milk or other route wagon, it will be understood that the cards 5 are arranged horizontally in a single row upon the bottom of the box, the greater portions of the bodies of said cards being on one side of the central rod 2. I/Vhen the first stop has been made, the first card on the rod, which bears the name and address of the customer, is swung upward and over into the opposite portion of the box,'with its lower edge resting on the bottom of the latter. This reversal of the position of the card discloses the name and address of the next customer on the second card, and when the next customer is served this second card is, as prescribed for the iirst card, thrown'to the reversed position. In a like manner the cards are successively thrown to the opposite side of the box or ease from that which they originally occupied, Aa portion of said cards being thus shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Owing to the fact that the adjacent cards are distinguished by different colors and the further fact that the cards may be viewed through the breaks or recesses 5 5b of the adjoining cards, any tendency of the operator to turn two cards at a time through mistake is obviated. In case it is desired to insert a new card bearing the name of a new customer in its proper place among the cards contained inthe case it will be seen that the rods 2 and 4 may be drawn outward and separated at the proper point for the insertion of said new card and that those cards which are thus drawn off the tubular rod 2 will not be displaced, inasmuch as' the inner rod 4 will serve to support the same until the rods are again telescoped one within the other.

lt will be seen that my improved device is IOO simple of construction and that by its use failure of the driver of a delivery-Wagon or other vehicle to make the required number of stops through forgetfulness may be overcome.

Having now fully described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a route-indicator, the combination with a oase, of a tubular rod extending centrally Within said ease and through one end thereof and a rod extending through the opposite end of the oase and telescoping Within said tubular rod, of a plurality of cards having their end portions mounted to turn on said tubular rod, the adjoining cards being of different colors substantially as speoiiied.

2. In a route-indicator, the combination with a'case, and a rod running therethrough "and detachable therefrom, of ya plurality of cards having their corresponding ends mounted to turn on said rod, the adjoining Cards being of diierent colors or shades and each of said cards having a out-away or recessed portion through which the Color of the adjoining card may be viewed, substantially as specified.

THOMAS E. KNAUSS. In presence of- M. S. SHEDD, C. C. SHEPHERD. 

